Hi! I’m Rachel!
I had a previous life as an event manager before becoming a personal trainer and I love dogs.
Getting into the fitness industry was a bit of a childhood calling for me but something that I didn’t take action on until I was in my 30s. I see my role in the Fitness industry is being about rehab, protecting current health and preventing injury.
I’ve often find myself starting conversations with ‘I’m not a weight-loss PT’. I guess I’m pre-empting what people will ask me, ‘what’s the best way to lose weight?’ And I’m also protecting myself from the scrutiny of my own appearance, be that from others or myself.
I have read some fabulous books on the subject of weight loss which have been a reminder to me that how much I weigh is simply that. No judgment or criticism added. I’ll share the books I’ve read on this at the end of this article. I guess I just wanted to share and give you an idea of where I’m coming from.
I may not be here for the sole purpose of weight loss but I am here to help make fitness fun, engaging, purposeful and injury free!
Let’s get into it and take a look at what I do in the Fitness industry.
A few years ago I took an additional qualification in GP referrals. Which means a GP can refer patients to me with a range of conditions that can be improved through exercise. Including:
- Heart health, namely high blood pressure and cholesterol
- COPD, including asthma
- Metabolic disease, namely diabetes
- Bone health covering osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
- Mental health
This course was important to me as I want to help those with health conditions improve their health for the better. And to keep people as healthy as possible for as long as possible. There are many barriers to exercise, some that manifest in our own mindset and some more physical.
For instance the pain of osteoarthritis in the knee or the effects of long Covid are physical. And for me as a child I manifested the idea that I was no good at throwing and catching and therefore there was no point in me being involved in any ball sports.
The irony is, with my work at the Samson Centre I use throwing and catching all the time to help my individuals grow and progress. And my throwing and catching ability has improved as a result.
In my private work, under the title of Taskmaster Fitness, I am working very closely with two women who have osteoarthritis in their knees. They’re both at different stages but essentially want the same outcome, to be able to move pain free and avoid a total knee replacement for as long as possible.
In both cases weight training is hugely important. I’m not talking body builder stuff, well, it’s using weights but that’s where the similarities end.
For these women, the weight training isn’t about looks or who can lift the heaviest. It’s about building healthy muscle that enables their joint to move without further wear and tear on the knee joint itself.
In both cases I’m working alongside their physiotherapist and both women are getting stronger and more mobile. As a personal trainer I can take on the donkey work for the physio. I can be there whilst individuals exercise, take great interest in the small wins along the way and gently, progressively overload them so they continue to get stronger.
This is a level of involvement that just isn’t accommodated for within the NHS physiotherapy service, rightly or wrongly. It’s just the way it is, we’re left to go and get on with the rest of the recovery ourselves.
I will personally fight to keep my independence and go to the toilet by myself for as long as possible. You may have heard me talking about needing strength in your legs for squats because it keeps you getting on and off the toilet by yourself.
This is why I was so happy to come and work at Melita Fitness. Chris’ focus is building strong women, who are fit for purpose and who can have great self-esteem. You may well lose weight along the way too if that is your goal. I love to share the very best of my knowledge and experience around different exercises and technique.
Then lastly, what about me, what does my training look like? Well I’m motivated by learning a skill and performance, aka sport. I spent the best part of 20 years rowing, albeit at a hobby level. I trained 3-4 times per week, both on the water and off. Off the water involved circuit training, running, cycling (indoor and outdoor) and A LOT of time on rowing machines.
Then the last 2 years I have been doing and learning Olympic Lifting! I entered my first competition this year and took part in July.
Lifting is great for my bone health as osteoporosis does run in my family and I want to protect myself from that. It also gives me a sense of purpose and working towards something. The way you learn to lift is progressive and totally led by what you can manage. And I love the social element too, of course!
I hope that gives you a good sense of who I am and how I work. Let me know if you have any questions.
And thank you Chris for having me in the fold, it’s much appreciated! And thank you to you all for embracing me as a new trainer for your classes.
Some of the books I read around weight loss that gave me an alternative perspective:
Just Eat It by Laura Thomas Phd
Intuitive Eating: Revolutionary program that works by Evelyn Tribole and Elise Resch
Health At Every Size: the surprising truth about your weight by Linda Bacon
You’re not a before picture by Alex Light
Big Fat Girl, Louise Green
